Mets closer Jeurys Familia savors World Series lessons

Jeurys Familia (l.) had terrific 2015 for Mets until blowing four games in World Series, including giving up Alex Gordon’s game-tying home run in Game 1. (Howard Simmons/New York Daily News)

It's been more than three months since Jeurys Familia suffered three blown saves in the Mets' World Series loss to the Royals, but the closer believes his disastrous week at the end of October will be a positive for him going forward despite the final result.

"I think that affected me in a very positive way," Familia said through a translator in his first public comments since the World Series. "Just being so early on in my career, to have that experience, I feel like it's really prepared me. I'm really appreciative for it."

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Familia, one of this year's honorees at Tuesday's 36th Annual Thurman Munson Awards, was brilliant for the Mets last year, posting a 1.85 ERA while saving 43 of 48 games in his first season as a closer.

He opened the postseason with 9.2 scoreless innings and five saves over eight appearances, but he fell apart in the World Series, blowing save opportunities in Games 1, 4 and 5 as the Mets fell to the Royals in five games.

"From that experience, you just learn about pressure and how to stay calm under pressure," Familia said. "How to pitch and keep your emotions under control under pressure, so just living that experience really teaches you so much."

Familia admitted that losing the World Series "affects you a little bit," though he believes the Mets' memorable run will have a lasting effect on the team in a positive manner.

"We went in there as underdogs, to have made it as far as we did," Familia said. "In the end, even though it was second place, we were proud to win the National League championship."

The addition of Antonio Bastardo to the Mets' bullpen should help ease some of the late-inning issues the club had last season, but for Familia, the signing was more meaningful than just adding a solid arm to the relief corps.

"When I first started pitching in the Dominican league, he was one of the first people that approached me," Familia said. "He was really there for me, to give me advice and help me out. He's just a really special person for me because he was always there for me. Part of who I am now as a pitcher is because of him. He's an amazing pitcher."

Familia likes the look of the team heading into spring training, confident that the Mets will take the final step to the title they narrowly missed out on a few months ago.

"I think all the moves that they made for us have been really good moves," Familia said. "I think that they're really setting us up to do what we did last year, but do it even better this time around."